Acid Reflux – causes and natural remedies
Stomach acid is natural and vital. Nobody has put it in the stomach. It’s not the cause of acid reflux disease. This acid is there for a reason to break down foods and sort them out. Proper digestion depends on enough of this stomach acid being present while you are eating.
The band of muscles at the end of the esophagus opens and allows foods into the stomach. Then it closes to stop the food and ACID coming back up, into the esophagus. Acid reflux is experienced by many people when foods or digestive juices escape from the stomach and come up through the esophagus.
It is important that you try help your stomach to have enough acid at mealtimes, chewing your food thoroughly helps. Getting saliva mixed up in the food as you are chewing will help get the digestive process off to a good start.The acid is needed most at mealtimes so snacking during the day doesn’t help. It causes the the stomach to pump out the acid gradually instead of saving it for when its really needed.
Therefore if you suffer with acid reflux its better to eat meals or snacks at least three hours apart. Like if you have breakfast at 6.00am then a snack at 9.00am and lunch at 12.00noon, would be fine. By also making sure that you don’t drink too much during the meal also helps. Too much liquid dilutes the necessary acid in the stomach. It has been found that to drink a glass of water maybe 30 minutes to an hour before or after a meal is most beneficial. Acutally taking only a few ounces during the meal. Feel free to drink as much pure natural water as you like an hour or two after the meal.
Eating large meals is another cause to bring on an acid reflux attack. The increased pressure on the stomach causes the stomach contents to be forced out and up into the esophagus. Your body needs at least two hours to properly digest your food and you should never lie down immediatley after eating any large meal. A way to avoid overproduction of acid would to eat smaller portions at each meal. Leaving out fried foods and any that contains refined sugar and caffeine also helps the production of too much acid.
Being overweight can also increase abdominal pressure so by cutting back on portion sizes will not only lessen the risk of acid reflux but will also help you to lose a few pounds at the same time. If you could add in a little daily exercise too, your whole body will benefit enormously not just your stomach.
Its not just overeating or eating the wrong foods that causes acid reflux. Acid reflux is in some people caused when the sphincter muscle at the end of the esophagus becomes weak and does not close properly. Prescription drugs, alcohol, and smoking, along with certain foods, have been known to weaken the sphincter muscles. Try natural remedies and do your best not to use antacids as they cut down the acids you will need when you eat. If you do not have enough acid, the stomach is unable to do its job of breaking down the food into the various nutrient components.
Inadequate digestion of proteins can cause the liver to increase production of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is the bad cholesterol that does the most damage to your body. If your stomach is unsettled between meals, try eating something that will settle it without triggering more acid production, like sauerkraut. Five to ten minutes after eating sauerkraut your stomach should start to relax.
The benefits of natural solutions are they normally cost a lot less, but even more important is the fact that natural solutions are a healthier alternative. They tend to reduce the possibility of becoming dependant on addictive chemical drugs.
Three herbs that are well known also for soothing stomach muscles, are chamomile, gentian, and ginger. If your problem does not respond successfully to natural remedies within a few days, please see your doctor/physician.
